LANSING – Speaker Pro Tempore Pam Byrnes (D-Lyndon Township) today announced that the House has approved a bill that provides nearly $49 million from the Michigan Natural Resources Trust Fund (MNRTF) to preserve land and fund the development of recreational projects.
"This funding is paramount to preserving our pristine natural resources envied by states across the country," Byrnes said. "Protecting opportunities to enjoy outdoor activities is one of the most important steps we can take to ensure our children have a chance to experience Michigan's one-of-a-kind outdoor legacy."
Communities across the state will receive nearly $49 million for 37 projects that acquire land for resource preservation and 44 projects for development of recreational opportunities.
Washtenaw County will benefit from two of these projects. One of the local projects included in the bill is the Sloan Property Parkland Acquisition Project, which includes the acquisition of approximately 67 acres of parkland with 3,740 feet of frontage on Mill Creek in Scio Township. The total cost of the project is nearly $1.9 million with $1.4 million coming from the MNRTF and $468,000 in local matching funds. A tributary of the Huron River, the Mill Creek property is to be used for nature study, environmental education and active recreation use.
The second project, the Waterloo Recreation Land Initiative, is an acquisition of approximately 617 acres of critical lands within the Waterloo Recreation Area in Washtenaw and Jackson counties. The total cost is $2.5 million of MNRTF funds.
"Maintaining our natural resources and a healthy tourism industry go hand-in-hand," Byrnes said. "With so many local economies counting on tourism dollars, this is a wise investment. We should continue to take advantage of any opportunity to boost economic growth in these difficult times."